Individuals with dementia more likely to fracture hip, researchers find

Researches have determined that people with dementia account for more than 80-percent of hip fractures in long-term care centers. The research team analyzed data based on 46,000 elders hip fractures in Ontario between 2003 and 2010.

Previous studies have indicated that those with dementia who break their hip are more likely to die, and more quickly, than those without dementia.

The team’s findings were published in the most recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

The research team indicated in their final analysis that dementia patients “are a high-risk group who likely require specialized care processes” after they come out of surgery.

One of the researchers stated, “Dementia is an independent risk factor for the development of some post-operative complications such as delirium, which is also a major risk factor for post-operative mortality… Part of the increased risk may have been due to individuals with dementia having greater severity of medical comorbidity, although an elevated risk of death associated with dementia continued to be observed after controlling for these factors.”

The critical inquiry in any nursing home liability case involves whether the facility performed a proper assessment of the resident’s risks and needs and, then, whether the facility developed and implemented a proper plan of care to promote the resident’s safety and well-being.

The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care. If you believe your loved one has been harmed due neglect or abuse in a nursing home, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.